Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister 

Ajit Pawar tragically died in a plane crash on January 28, 2026. The chartered aircraft, a 16-year-old Learjet 45XR (registration VT-SSK) operated by VSR Ventures, crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport in Pune district. 

Accident Details

• Time & Location: The crash occurred at approximately 8:46 AM IST in an open field about 50 metres from the runway at Baramati Airport.
• Flight Path: The flight departed from Mumbai at 8:10 AM. After an initial “going around” transmission due to visibility issues, the aircraft attempted a second approach.
• Final Moments: CCTV footage showed the aircraft banking sharply to the right and hitting trees before impacting the ground and bursting into flames. Cockpit recordings captured the pilot saying “Oh S***” seconds before the impact.
• Victims: All five people on board were killed:
  • Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
  • Captain Sumit Kapur, Pilot-in-Command (who had filled in for a friend at the last minute).
  • Captain Shambhavi Pathak, First Officer.
  • Vidip Jadhav, Pawar’s Personal Security Officer.
  • Pinky Mali, Flight Attendant. 

Preliminary Findings & Investigation

• Visibility: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report noted visibility was 3 km, well below the 5 km minimum required for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) at Baramati airfield.
• Infrastructure Gaps: The report highlighted that Baramati airport lacked certified meteorological facilities, had faded runway markings, and no boundary wall.
• CID Probe: The Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID) initiated a probe to rule out any potential sabotage or foul play.

What happened

• On March 17, 2026, a small aircraft — an Aero Commander 500B (registration N444CA) — crashed at Spirit of St. Louis Airport.
• The plane was operated by Central Air Southwest.
• The crash occurred around 3:40 a.m., shortly after takeoff.

Sequence of events

• The aircraft took off normally but soon began losing altitude.
• It appears the pilot attempted to return to the airport, possibly due to a problem.
• Witness footage showed the plane flying abnormally (up and down) before descending.
• The aircraft then crashed near the runway and caught fire on impact.

Casualties

• The only person on board, a 65-year-old pilot (Edward Ruhbeck), was killed in the crash.
• No passengers or other crew were present.

What happened

• On 11 March 2026, an Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating flight IX938 flew from Hyderabad to Phuket.
• During landing at Phuket airport, the aircraft touched down very hard, causing major stress on the landing gear.
• The nose landing gear failed, and in some reports, the nose wheels detached after impact.
• The aircraft skidded along the runway and became immobilized.

Impact on the airport

• Phuket airport’s runway was closed for several hours due to the damaged aircraft.
• Many flights were delayed or diverted, affecting airport operations significantly.

Cause

• The airline confirmed the issue was related to a nose wheel malfunction during landing.
• Investigations are ongoing to determine whether it was due to:
  • mechanical failure
  • or the severity of the landing